Canadian Wireless Sector Generates Economic Benefit of $50.2 Billion

OTTAWA, June 3, 2013 /CNW/ - A new report released today by the Canadian
Wireless Telecommunications Association (CWTA) reveals the Canadian
wireless sector generated an overall economic benefit of $50.2 billion
in 2011, an increase of 16.7% from the $43 billion in 2010. The Benefit of the Wireless Telecommunications Industry to the Canadian
Economy study, conducted by Nordicity, concludes that the Canadian wireless
sector's economic benefit has increased dramatically, as Canadians'
adoption of smartphones, tablets and mobile data services and
applications has also increased at a rapid pace.

"The wireless sector continues to yield significant economic benefits on
both the supply-side and the demand-side," said Nordicity Partner
Stuart Jack. "The supply-side impacts include the GDP and employment
attributable to economic activity within the wireless sector. The
demand-side impacts include the consumer surplus generated by the
competitive pricing and innovative services available to Canadians."

Key Findings:

The Canadian wireless industry generated an overall economic benefit of
$50.2 billion in 2011, when direct and multiplier effects associated
with the industry's GDP ($38.7 billion) are combined with the consumer
surplus generated by wireless voice and data services ($11.5 billion).

The Canadian wireless industry generated $20.7 billion in direct GDP in
2011. Direct GDP was up by 15% from $18 billion in 2010. Most of this
increase was associated with Canadians' increasing use of smartphones
and wireless data services.

Out of the wireless industry's direct GDP of $20.7 billion, $13.4
billion, or 64%, was retained in Canada.

"With more than 90% of Canadians aged 15 and over now using a wireless
device, we are connected like never before," said Bernard Lord, CWTA
President & CEO. "Not only has wireless become essential to the lives
of Canadians, it has also become a critical component of our economic
prosperity."

Bernard Lord will further discuss the importance of the wireless sector
to Canadian society and the Canadian economy during a keynote speech
today at 4.15pm at the Canadian Telecom Summit.

Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association (CWTA)
CWTA is the authority on wireless issues, developments and trends in
Canada. It represents cellular, PCS, messaging, mobile radio, fixed
wireless and mobile satellite carriers as well as companies that
develop and produce products and services for the industry. (www.cwta.ca)